Hello, Birders. In a nutshell, the birding was wonderful on all four days of the conference. During the conference, participants observed substantially in excess of 200 species, with such highlights as Little Blue Heron, Glossy Ibis, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Alder Flycatcher, Yellow-throated Vireo, Tennessee Warbler, Northern Parula, Palm Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Sage Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Baltimore Oriole, and White-winged Crossbill. As far as I know, the trips got off without a hitch. We had the usual challenges in snow, high water, high winds, a moose or two, and so forth; but everybody got back safely. A special word of thanks to Bill Schmoker for organizing and distributing the sack lunches for field trip participants. And huge thanks to Mark Peterson and Brad Steger with the immense logistical challenge--brilliantly executed--of organizing all the trips. Two things were especially notable about the field trips. First, the field trip leaders were patient, generous, flexible, and excellent. Many thanks to all the leaders: Craig Benkman, Loni Beyer, Chip Clouse, John Drummond, Ted Floyd, Peter Gent, Tom Hall, Chuck Hundertmark, Bill Kaempfer, Doug Kibbe, Heather Knight, Nick Komar, Dave Leatherman, Chris Pague, Mark Peterson, Nathan Pieplow, Ira Sanders, Bill Schmoker, and Paul Slingsby. Second, the field trips were wonderfully diverse. Participants got to visit places and do things that simply would have been out of the question except at a CFO conference. Here is a partial enumeration of the field trips: * With Craig Benkman and Nathan Pieplow, a special expedition to see, hear, and learn about Red Crossbills. * With various leaders, a tour of The Nature Conservancy's Phantom Canyon Preserve. Outrageous scenery. * With the hatchet-wielding Dave Leatherman, a unique outing to learn about pine bark beetles and other insects. * Chase! High-octane excursions to go find rarities throughout the northern Front Range region--and beyond. * With Ted Floyd, bare-naked birding. Laid back, late start, early finish, no bins, great views, good birds. * With Bill Schmoker, bird photography. In-the-field training from one of the greats of avian digital photography. * With various leaders, the legendary Wyoming Hereford Ranch. Rarities aplenty at this fabled vagrant trap. * With Lynn Wickersham, birding with a purpose. Participants performed field work for the Breeding Bird Atlas. * With Ted Floyd and other insomniacs, nocturnal migration and night-singing passerines in Weld County. * With Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory biologists, a tour of a sludge dump converted to vital bird habitat. Along with all of these special opportunities, there were plenty of "normal" field trips to "normal" places like Cameron Pass, Crow Valley Campground, Pawnee National Grassland, Rocky Mountain National Park, and so forth. At least one of the trips made it all the way to Jumbo Reservoir! On a personal note, the three trips I led were enchanting from start to finish. And why is that? That's easy--Because of the wonderful participants! At Phantom Canyon, participants marveled at Clark's Nutcrackers and White-throated Swifts zooming through the canyons; Bald Eagles and Golden Eagles soaring amid the rimrocks; and Rock Wrens proclaiming their breathy songs atop every outcropping. At Lee Martinez Park, participants delighted in fine viewing of Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Orchard Oriole, and others; the birds were extra special in their full-context, bare-naked glory. And out on the Pawnee National Grassland, participants gathered under the stars and listened in silent wonder to booming Common Nighthawks, chanting Lark Buntings, and a trickle of passerines on nocturnal migration. I'm certain the other field trip leaders would have much the same to say about the wonderful participants on their outings. Thanks to all the participants and leaders for sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm! ------------------------------- Ted Floyd Editor, Birding Follow Birding magazine on Twitter: http://twitter.com/BirdingMagazine ------------------------------- _________________________________________________________________ The New Busy is not the old busy. Search, chat and e-mail from your inbox. http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?ocid=PID28326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HMP:042010_3
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